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« WGA Post-Strike Watch: News About Returning Shows
Rupert Murdoch: Strike Won't Last Long... Or Maybe it Will
"It's not going to last as long as everybody says. But if it does, it does. We're prepared." That's News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch's latest take on the WGA strike, as shared during a Thursday appearance on Fox News' Your World with Neil Cavuto. "I would be hopeful we will have everybody back at work fairly soon," he continued, "but maybe [it will be] a few months."
Murdoch, as is his wont, also characterized the WGA's latest arguments as "rhetoric" depicting the two sides as "big, fat companies and us poor writers, as though they really want to change to some sort of Socialist system and drag down the companies."
What's your take? "Fair and balanced"?
More strike coverage:
• WGA Files Complaint with National Labor Relations Board; AMPTP Responds
• Late-night Hosts to Return in Unison?
• Directors Guild "Disappointed" by WGA Strike Stalemate
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Dec 14, 2007 10:46 AM
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Rupert Murdoch is never fair and balanced ... he makes far too much money.
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Dec 14, 2007 11:55 AM
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Grammar Police!
Murdoch, as is his wont
Not his 'want'
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Dec 14, 2007 11:56 AM
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Fixed, thank you! (We're moving offices today, down to 42nd and 5th, so I'm kinda writing this all on the fly sans a copy editor.) - MWM
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Dec 14, 2007 12:08 PM
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Well, all I can say is that an indictment from Murdoch is a badge of honor.
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Dec 14, 2007 12:14 PM
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Well, all I can say is that an indictment from Murdoch is a badge of honor.
Love it! - MWM
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Dec 14, 2007 12:31 PM
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Wow, he's actually calling the writers "socialist" now?
Just wow.
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Dec 14, 2007 1:33 PM
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In related news, Emperor Palpatine-- speaking shortly before he joined Murdoch for lunch at Morton's-- also weighed in on the WGA, hissing that that the greedy writers were trying to drag down his Empire.
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Dec 14, 2007 1:39 PM
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Wow, he's actually calling the writers "socialist" now?
Just wow.
That was my reaction too, minderbinder. To me, the writers' position seems to be To each, according to his ability, rather than "From each, according to his ability" (Marx-allegedly). In other words- the writers create the product that makes all the money, so they deserve a cut of all revenues generated from the creation of said product. Mr. Murdoch may wish to review his isms- methinks he picked the wrong one.
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Dec 14, 2007 1:56 PM
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Of course, he's prepared. American Idol returns in January... who needs scripted TV? No other network has that in their pocket. I mean, Big Brother multiple nights a week or American Idol multiple nights a week. With or without the writers, Murdoch and Fox are ok.
FOX can also use the ad revenue from the Super Bowl to tide them over for a while.
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Dec 14, 2007 2:09 PM
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What I think would be absolutely hilarious if no one (I know ... wishful thinking) would watch "AI" ... that would really hit Murdoch where it would hurt! LOL! Seriously though ... people like him just don't even remotely have a clue and it just p.o.'s me that he can even think about making statements like that much less actually say them. What an idiot.
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Dec 14, 2007 3:48 PM
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To me, the writers' position seems to be To each, according to his ability, rather than "From each, according to his ability" (Marx-allegedly).
Cate, if that were the writers' position, then each TV show creator or screenwriter would negotiate their own residuals as part of their contract when they sell a product, not get a blanket number from the WGA regardless of the show's merit. If was "to each, according to ability", are you telling me the writers of Grey's and Lost should be paid on the same residual template as the writers of Cavemen and Moonlight?? lol. no.
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Dec 14, 2007 8:29 PM
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I guess I needed some clarification.
What is the main issue of the writers; or, what do the writers really want out of all of this ?
My guess is the strike is over the fact that they are not paid enough.
The fact that of the # of episodes they write, they branch out through various means to the viewer, appearing on television, and the fact that the same episodes they write can also be seen and watched through the internet.
They want to be getting residuals for the broadcasts through the internet.
I think they could at least accept that as a starting point. Second,
Are they going to bring up the fact that they want residuals from companies that rent the videos, too? Like the Big
Mail-in company and also the major retailers? What would the wga have to do with that, if anything ? I think Maybe what they want is help from the wga on that. Also, I don't think the studios in Hollywood would let the writer get more than the Stars for their production efforts. A writer usually makes his money from his Royalties in a contract. These are my thoughts on the subject.
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Dec 14, 2007 9:24 PM
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"Socialist"?! Whoa. Unions have a long and proud history in this country. It's not socialist to want basic protections against being exploited in the workplace. We're not asking to break the corporations. We're asking them not to break US!
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Dec 14, 2007 9:38 PM
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I happen to have one other
thought on this subject.
Do they also get a percentage from EVERY TIME AN EPISODE APPEARS
ON TV as a “ rerun ” ?
Although my knowledge is
pretty limited because I just watch
and read about the stuff, and I don't really know what
is on the table out there in the actual negotiations.
Writers are important to the actors
as far as their work goes.
And network television is a big part
of their medium. Perhaps more so
than the video/dvd and internet stuff.
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Dec 14, 2007 9:50 PM
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